Chancellor's Advisory Board

2022-2023 Advisory Board Members

Represented Group Required by NCGS 116-239.8(1)(a)

D.C. VIRGO PREPARATORY ACADEMY CHANCELLOR’S ADVISORY BOARD - July 26, 2023

The D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy Chancellor’s Advisory Board held the first meeting of the 2023-2024 school year on July 26, 2023 at 3pm in the Media Center at D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy. Interim Dean Carol McNulty called the meeting to order and read the required statement from the State Government Ethics Act.

DEAN’S WELCOME & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF APPOINTED MEMBERS

Interim Dean McNulty welcomed all members of the Advisory Board and other guests. She acknowledged the attendance of the following appointed members in attendance: Frances “Perry” Chappell, Rebecca Clark, Jana Jones Halls, Kemeka Sidbury, and Jo’Landa Sidbury. Additional attendees were Principal Sabrina Hill-Black, Joy Childs, Diane Lane, Steve Miller, and Jodi Hebert. Dean McNulty introduced herself and expressed excitement about working with the Advisory Board as Interim Dean this year and as UNCW faculty throughout the new five-year renewal period. She gave updates about Watson College of Education, UNCW, and bills working their ways through the state legislature specific to education. Steve Miller clarified how bills passed by the state legislature may or may not pertain to DCVPA depending on the language within the law.

REVIEW OF MINUTES APRIL 26, 2023

Minutes were reviewed. Perry Chappell made a motion to approve the minutes for April 26, 2023. The motion received a second from Rebecca Clark and the minutes were adopted unanimously.   

GENERAL UPDATES

Principal Hill-Black provided a calendar update. DCVPA will follow the year-round restart calendar for the 2023-24 school year. This year’s theme is Leveling Up. She also provided a testing update. Scores from the 2022-2023 End of Grade tests are still embargoed, but staff is analyzing preliminary data within their teams.

Principal Hill-Black provided a staffing update. Several new positions have been created and hired to support academics and instruction. The new positions are Exceptional Children Director, Academic and Learning Coordinator, Instructional Coach, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Specialist, and Literacy Coach. All positions except for Literacy Coach have been hired and that search is currently underway. Several new staff members have been hired to fill open positions. There are new hires in Music, Elementary, Middle School and as Instructional Assistants. Some positions are still open. These positions are Assistant Principal, Exceptional Children Teacher, and Elementary Teacher.

Principal Hill-Black provided enrollment updates. 156 students are returning, 53 new students have enrolled, 21 students have applied but have not completed enrollment, and 10 students are currently on a waitlist.

Joy Childs provided the annual budget update and reviewed the budget for FY22-23. She praised Diane Lane for her diligence and hard work in keeping the budget balanced and funds protected.

Steve Miller explained the UNCW Organizational Audit Process. DCVPA is in general compliance and the DCVPA team is working to address the findings and establish protocols for processes as suggested in the audit. He also provided updates on the new five-year Memorandum of Agreement and lease with New Hanover County Schools. Several items that were a point of difficulty in the previous agreement were resolved.

OPEN FORUM

Rebecca Clark explained that flooring in the Action-Based Learning Lab needs to be replaced. This will be an expensive project and funding is needed. Principal Hill-Black suggested that the School Improvement Team and Support Team discuss the integration of action-based learning school-wide, usage of the lab, and curriculum connections to establish a cost/use analysis before allocating funds to the initiative. It is possible that the school can work with Dawn Carter at UNCW Advancement to seek donations.

NEXT MEETING

Our next meeting will be October 25, 2023 at 3:00pm.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the meeting was duly adjourned as Kemeka Sidbury moved to adjourn and Jana Jones Halls seconded.

D.C. VIRGO PREPARATORY ACADEMY CHANCELLOR’S ADVISORY BOARD - April 26, 2023

The D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy Chancellor’s Advisory Board held the fourth and final meeting of the 2022-2023 school year on April 26, 2023 at 3pm in the Media Center at D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy. Dean Van Dempsey called the meeting to order and read the required statement from the State Government Ethics Act.

DEAN’S WELCOME & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF APPOINTED MEMBERS

Dean Dempsey welcomed all members of the Advisory Board and other guests. He acknowledged the attendance of the following appointed members in attendance: Frances “Perry” Chappell, Candace Thompson, Rebecca Clark, Philip Brown, and Kemeka Sidbury. Additional attendees were Principal Sabrina Hill-Black, Joy Childs, Steve Miller, and Jodi Hebert. Dean Dempsey expressed gratitude for the group’s attendance at this meeting given the busy time of year.

REVIEW OF MINUTES JANUARY 25, 2023

Minutes were reviewed. Perry Chappell made a motion to approve the minutes for January 25, 2023. The motion received a second from Philip Brown and the minutes were adopted unanimously.   

GENERAL UPDATES

Principal Hill-Black provided staffing updates. A new first-grade teacher has been hired who will co-teach with our current first-grade teacher until she transitions to become MTSS Specialist. The new first-grade teacher will loop up with the students to be their second-grade teacher next year. The Data Manager position has been filled as well as an Exceptional Children Instructional Assistant. A new middle school teacher (Language Arts and Social Studies) and elementary teacher will start the 2023-24 year. One middle school teacher may or may not be returning. The Music teacher is retiring. The Music teacher position has been posted and will close on May 2. Assistant Principal, Instructional Coach, Literacy Coach, and Academic and Learning Coordinator are in the search committee process. The Exceptional Children Director position is vacant and will be posted soon. A K-1 Instructional Assistant position will be vacant as of June 30, 2023.

Joy Childs provided the annual budget update and reviewed the budget for FY22-23. Dean Dempsey praised the detail and effort put into business processes by the business office. Steve Miller expressed that being affiliated with the university is a blessing given the staff time and expertise that keep school business affairs working efficiently.

Dean Dempsey shared that the UNCW Organizational Audit Process is complete. This is a typical, rotating process for all university units. Suggestions for improvement were presented to the school from the audit panel. DCVPA’s responses to the suggestions and a plan action were submitted to complete the final report. The Advisory Board will have the opportunity to review the report at a future meeting and DCVPA will begin working towards the audit panel’s recommendations.

The new five-year Memorandum of Understanding with New Hanover County Schools will go before the NHCS school board on May 2. Steve Miller expressed that all issues have been resolved and approval is the final step.

OPEN FORUM

There were no items raised for discussion.

NEXT MEETING

Our next meeting will be July 26, 2023 at 3:00pm.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the meeting was duly adjourned as Perry Chappell moved to adjourn and Kemeka Sidbury seconded.

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